The knock-on disruption from the grenade incident at Gatwick Airport resulted in the closure of the north terminal and led to some flights being cancelled.

Thousands of passengers had to stay at Gatwick Airport or at local hotels overnight, after 21 outgoing flights were cancelled and many more disrupted as experts dealt with the grenade.

Some passengers were left confused and angry, saying information was poor.

But some were happy to be patient.

Julie Coppin, 47, from Brentwood, Essex, said: "It's what should be done all the time anyway. I think there should be more security."

Intelligence

British Airways said a further 10 inbound flights to the North Terminal and one outbound, the
0750 GMT to Luxembourg, had been cancelled on Friday.

A spokeswoman said most of the cancelled flights were short-haul flights from
destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt.

We'll do everything that is required to deal with the threat that we perceive at the moment

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter, Met Police

Heathrow airport has been guarded by hundreds of troops and more than 1,000 police officers since Tuesday, following MI5 intelligence that a group was plotting to shoot down an aircraft.

Ministers have angrily denied the Heathrow operation - which at one point involved tanks and other armoured vehicles - was a publicity stunt ahead of a war against Iraq.

Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner Andy Trotter said the Metropolitan Police was doing all it could to protect the capital.

"We'll do everything that is required to deal with the threat that we perceive at the moment," he said.

At Stansted Airport the access road was closed to the public and guarded by armed police from 0400 GMT to 0900 GMT on Friday due to the arrival and departure of
Israeli airline El Al flights to Tel Aviv, which are considered a
potential target for terrorists.

However, it has since reopened.

Extra police have also been drafted in at other airports, including Manchester, Leeds Bradford and Jersey.